Hello team! I have a 2007 LS 460 and am considering draining the engine block as well as the radiator and coolant reservoir. Can anyone let me know the best way to locate the drain bolt for the engine block? My plan is to replace the water pump and thermostat and any worn contaminated hoses. Thanks in advance. Doesn’t seem to be anything on YouTube about draining the coolant from the engine block. My vehicle has 165,000 miles.

 

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See the attached PDF diagram. When I did the engine block coolant drain on my RWD LS460, the engine block drain plug on the passenger side was much easier to reach than the driver side. Good luck.
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It looks like this. They are under the exhaust housing. I think it's a 12mm socket size. I'd recommend you use WD40 or Rust Penetrant before trying to crack them. It'll feel like it's going to break. Just 2-3 turns back and it'll start draining out the little tube/port. I just use a 2 foot long clear hose to drain it into my coolant pan. You're going to want ~18 inches of extension, and probably a universal join or wobble extension. They are WAYYY up in there.

 

Thanks yyymmm31 for the quick , helpful reply. The attached file pdf is exactly what I needed.

 

Thank you dan25man! Great advice and directions. I’ll be sure to use the rust penetrating blast! Good looking out.

 

Folks, I just cannot find these in my 2007 LS460, I looked on both sides. Can someone give me more guidance? How do you access them? I removed the lower plastic shield, of course, and little triangle plastic covers on each side of the inner fender wall, but nothing. Is it possible that these are not there for all model years?

 

The amount of coolant you get from those drains isn't worth your time, there will still be coolant in the block when you're done.

 

Thank you, I hope you are right. I threw in the towel and I am doing just the radiator drain for now. I found the passenger side drain using a borescope (!), and I tried to put a hose on it, but I gave up. I could stick my hand in there but barely touch the nipple, but I cannot see how you can put a socket and a hose. Maybe with two people...

Draining the radiator is a piece of cake, so I will just do two coolant changes and call it a day.

To those who did this, you are twice the man I am. Whoever designed this, I do not understand how they thought you can access the drains.

 

Ok, finished the radiator drain and refill. It was super easy. I got a bit over a gallon out but the level was below the low mark. The system holds just under three gallons, so I got about more than a third.
Frankly, I much rather do this several times than drain the block with those impossible to reach cogs. I am thinking I will do this three times. I am not sure how much more coolant would come out from the block drains anyway, does anyone know?

IMHO, this should be in the FAQ in capital letters: DON'T BOTHER WITH THE BLOCK DRAINS! Sorry, I had to vent.

 

All you have to do is do a rad drain n fill every 2 yrs and you will be good, it's cheap and easy.

 

That's my plan. I will do 2-3 changes now since I don't think the coolant has ever been changed at 150K miles, and then follow the 2-year cycle. What's great is that I don't think you even need to remove the undertray, just fit a hose to the drain and open the cog.